Concealed Weapons

May 24, 1986

SENATE PRESIDENT HARRY Johnston said Friday he will shoot down a House bill that would make it legally easier in some areas of Florida to carry a concealed weapon. Johnston said at his weekly news conference he will refer the bill (HB 1) to the Senate's Judiciary-Criminal and Governmental Operations committees. But he said there is little chance those committees will act on the bill in the two weeks left in the session. ''Those committees will only meet one more time,'' Johnston said. ''It's been shot down.'' The Senate refused earlier this session to override Gov. Bob Graham's veto of an almost identical measure passed by the 1985 Legislature. Graham warned he may veto the measure again if he got the chance. The House voted 86 to 27 Wednesday to approve the bill and send it to the Senate. The bill would create a uniform statewide law on concealed-gun permits. Supporters argue that city and county ordinances vary so widely now that a person may unwittingly break the law by carrying a gun from one place to another.